bnlv.^l  Ul,  Llbruij 

51 


Oak  Street 
UNCLASSIFIED 


111  Ai^niortam* 


C’ircft 


1785-1857. 


1 


•'■4; 
, '■ 


r 4 

''4. 


•I 


1 


./■ 


i 


• V 


n / 


✓* 


‘ ^ 

^ /J  # ^ ^ * •" 


^^1 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/inmemoriamdirckcOOhopk 


IN  M IvMOKM  AM. 


DIRCK  C.  LANSING,  1).  D. 


Bor 71  at  La7isi7i(yl)iirgli,  N.  Marc/i  jd,  ijS^. 
Died  at  Cificiiiiiati,  Ohio,  March  igth,  iS^j. 


AUBURN,  N.  Y., 

Press  of  Knapi*,  Peck  & Thomson. 
1883. 


IN  MKIXIORIAM. 


riie  following  Memorial  services  were  held  in  Calvary  Presbyterian 
Church,  Auburn,  New  York,  on  Sabbath  morning,  September  23CI, 
1883.  The  occasion  was  furnished  by  the  gift  to  the  Church  of  a new 
Communion  table,"'  and  the  services  were  as  usual,  until  the  time  for 
the  sermon  arrived,  when  the  pastor,  the  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart,  stated 
that  it  had  been  an  open  secret  for  some  weeks  that  the  church  was  to 
receive  this  gift. 

“It  is  presented  as  a Memorial  of  her  father,  the  Rev.  Dirck  C. 
Lansing,  1).  D.,  by  his  daughter. 


*The  table  is  two  feet  four  inches  wide,  four  feet  ei5>ht  inches  long,  and  two  feet  nine  inches  high.  It 
is  made  of  black  walnut  with  a red  Tennessee  marble  top.  It  has  three  open  arches  in  front  and  back  and 
one  in  either  end,  with  trefoils  and  heavy  carving.  It  is  a piece  of  genuine  ecclesiastical  work  which  might 
well  be  called  Victorian  Gothic.  Just  under  the  top  moulding  is  carved,  “ this  do  in  remembrance  of  me,” 
and  on  the  lower  crossbar  “ In  memoriam.”  On  the  moulding  at  the  back  is  a neat  silver  plate  with  the 
inscription  : 

" Presentt'ii  to  Calvary  Church  by  Mrs.  F.  L.  Griswold, 
in  memory  of  her  father. 

Rev.  Dirck  C.  Lansing,  D.  D , pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
from  iSij  to  iS2g, 

the  first  tweli'c  ) ears  in  the  history  of  this  house  of  worshipP 


4 


“ 'I'he  first  sermon  that  Dr.  Lansinir  preached  in  Auburn  was  delivered 
in  this  house,  which  was  then  the  First  church,  and  it  was  the  dedication 
sermon.  'I  he  new  church  had  just  been  completed  when  Dr.  Lansing 
was  called,  in  the  fall  of  1817,  to  be  the  pastor,  and  for  twelve  years 
these  walls  heard  his  ringing  eloquence. 

“d'his  occasion  affords  a fitting  opportunity  for  something  to  be  said 
regarding  Dr.  Lansing  and  his  connection  with  this  church  and  I have 
invited  Prof.  Hopkins,  than  whom  none  other  is  better  fitted,  to  deliver  a 
short  memorial  address.” 

Address  rv  Prof.  S.  M.  Hopkins. 

Idle  writer  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  exhorts  those  disciples  to 
keep  in  memory  the  faithful  pastors  who  had,  at  an  earlier  period, 
preached  to  them  the  gospel.  “ Remember  them  that  had  the  rule  over 
you,  which  spake  unto  you  the  word  of  God,  and  considering  the  issue 
of  their  life,  imitate  their  faith.”  A faithful  minister  of  Christ,  an  able 
and  zealous  preacher  of  His  word,  should  not  be  quickly  forgotten  in 
the  community  where  he  labored.  Such  a man  leaves  a legacy  of  pre- 
cious memories  and  precious  influences  behind  him,  of  which  the  local 
church  and  congregation,  at  least,  should  recognize  themselves  as  in 
some  sort  the  heirs,  and  claim  their  share  in  the  bequest.  We  are  all 
of  us — indeed,  the  best  of  us — and  those  who  are  better  than  the  best  of 
us,  but  as  water  spilled  upon  the  ground  that  cannot  be  gathered  up. 
The  memory  of  us  cannot  long  survive.  But  a good  and  honored  ser- 
vant of  Christ,  who  preached  the  gospel  with  distinguished  power  and 
success,  should  certainly  not  be  forgotten  in  the  community  where  he 
lived  and  within  the  generation  to  which  he  belonged.  It  is  not  so  long 


silUT  I )i'.  1 ..lusiiiL;  (lied  il  w.is  in  1H57  Init  lli;il  many  si  ill  survive  who 
knew  him  well  ; and  il  is  not  so  lono  since  he  pre.iched  the  j^ospel,  oc- 
casionally at  h'ast  in  this  city,  (down  to  iS^H)  hut  that  theta;  are  a 
oood  mail)-  of  onr  older  citizens,  and  mystdf  ainontj  tliein  who  easily  re- 
call his  reinarkahh'  person  and  (pialitic's  in  the  pidpit.  'There  is  an  in- 
IliKMice  h\-  no  imams  to  lx*  d(;spis(;d,  connected  with  the  permanence 
and  iilentity  of  a Christian  stinctnary.  Where  a ereat  cathedral  or  a 
more  humhle  church  lias  stood  for  many  years  or  even  centuries,  it  en- 
shrines ami  gathers  unto  itself  a host  of  nohle  and  holy  associations. 
No  one  surel)’  can  stand  in  the  castle-church  where  Luther  thundered 
against  the  corru[itions  of  the  Papacy,  or  in  the  identical  temple  in 
which  |ohn  Calvin  spoke  day  after  day,  his  great  exercitations  on  the 
scriptures,  or  step  into  the  pulpit  wdiere  Richard  ILixter  or  Ceorge 
W'hitefield  hekl  forth  the  glories  of  the  Saint’s  Rest,  or  the  guilt  and 
doom  of  an  unbelieving  world,  wathout  feeling  the  air  resonant  wath 
sainted  voices,  and  holy  almost  as  the  mount  where  Moses  and  Elias  de- 
scended to  talk  with  Jesus  ; the  stones  of  the  wall  cry  out  and  the 
beams  from  the  ceiling  answer  ; through  the  long-drawn  aisles  the  echo 
of  ancient  psalmody  faintly  resounds  and  the  pews  seem  filled  with 
ghostly  worshipers,  whose  bodies  have  long  since  mouldered  in  the 
church  yard.  In  such  sanctuaries  we  stand  with  bated  breath  and  un- 
covered head,  since  even  though  now  perhaps  desecrated  by  supersti- 
tious rites,  and  an  impure  gospel,  they  have  been  for  long  generations 
past  the  house  of  God  and  the  gate  of  heaven  to  countless  Christian 
souls,  have  rung  with  the  noblest  eloquence,  have  satisfied  the  most 
saintly  devotion,  have  stood  as  monuments  and  landmarks  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  while  thrones  and  palaces  have  crumbled  into  dust. 


6 


I{v(.*n  ill  this  new  western  world,  where  almost  all  sanctuaries  like 
oth(;r  [uihlic  institutions  are  recent  and  modern,  the  influence  of  this 
association  of  sacred  memories  with  [)lan  and  structure  is  by  no  means 
unfelt.  A Christian  church  which  has  stood  for  a generation  or  two  on 
this  soil  has  witnessed  scenes  of  pathos  and  of  power  which,  we  may  well 
believe,  have  thrilled  the  invisible  world,  and  left  their  impress  deep  on 
the  moral  and  spiritual  history  of  human  society.  Such  is  this  sanctua- 
ry in  which  we  here  worship.  In  its  substance  and  solid  frame-work, 
as  is  well  known  to  you,  it  belonged  to  the  old  Pdrst  Church,  until  su- 
perseded on  its  original  site  by  the  present  beautiful  stone  structure. 
It  had  gone  through  various  removals  and  improvements  down  to  that 
time.  It  had  been  cut  in  two  in  the  middle  and  lengthened  to  meet  the 
demands  of  the  growing  population.  But  it  still  retained  its  original 
substance  and  form — the  proportions  only  being  slightly  changed.  It 
was  always  the  same  old  rigid  New  England  “meeting-house;”  the 
preacher  was  still  obliged  to  climb  to  his  perch,  half  way  between  the 
floor  and  ceiling,  and  Noah’s  dove  with  the  olive  branch  in  his  beak 
still  hovered  over  his  head.  Such  was  the  church  that  in  the  year  1869 
was  taken  down,  transported  at  the  expense  of  Mr.  James  S.  Seymour 
to  this  lot  on  which  it  now  stands,  also  his  cjift,  and  here  rebuilt  with 
the  same  identical  materials.  This  is  the  same  church,  therefore  we 
may  truly  say,  in  which  the  series  of  noble  pastors,  and  great  evangel- 
ists whose  services  the  First  congregation  enjoyed  during  a period  of 
sixty  years,  held  forth  the  word  of  life.  It  was  within  these  walls  that 
the  saintly  and  venerable  Orton  pleaded  with  sinners  to  be  reconciled 
to  God.  It  was  here  that  Finney  with  his  awful  logic,  broke  down  and 
shattered  to  pieces  every  bulwark  that  unbelief  and  impenitence  built 


In  raeraoriam.  Dirick  C . 
(1785-1857) 


Auburn,  NY,  KnaDD,Peck 

1883 


Lansing,  D. D. 


& T homson. 


up  the  truth,  and  lorccd  the  stoutest  hearted  reljels  to  fall  on 

thc'ir  knees,  and  ask  what  they  must  do  to  he  s.ived,  and  to  our  present 
purpos(‘,  it  was  these;  timlx-rs  thathe.ird  the  coiuinandinj^^  awe-inspirinj^ 
and  pathetic  eloeiueiuu',  of  one  who  in  all  tiu'  (pialiti(;s  of  a faithful  niin- 
isUM',  and  in  all  the'  attrihuU's  of  a ereat  pulpit  orator  was  scarcely  s(;c- 
ond  to  any  man  of  his  oencratioa,  the*  I\cv.  I)irck  C.  Lansinj^.  If  th(;sc 
walls  coulil  have  ahsorhed  like  a perf(;ctc;d  [)h()n()(^raph  the  discourses  to 
which  they  echoeil  between  1.S17  and  1829,  and  often  afterwards,  and 
couhl  eive  them  out  to  us  now,  what  a storm  of  im[)etuous  argumen- 
tation, of  tender  [ileading,  of  direct  pungent  ai)[)eal  to  the  conscience, 
would  reverberate  like  thunder  peals  along  these  aisles. 

Hut  to  the  [)honograph,  would  have  also  to  be  added  some  curiously 
[)erfected  [)hotograph  to  set  the  man  before  us — the  tall,  slender,  erect 
figure  : the  swarthy  complexion  and  coal  black  hair  (afterward  whitened 
by  age,)  the  keen  glance  of  the  dark  eye — the  whole  inspired  with  an 
air  of  lofty  courage  and  self  confidence,  that  made  him  dominate  every 
congregation  like  a king  of  men — if  all  this  could  be  r(;produced,  we 
should  get  some  idea  of  what  Dirck  C.  Lansing  was  in  his  prime.  Men 
shrunk  before  the  glance  of  that  eye  as  if  it  were  the  lightning — before 
the  pointing  of  his  finger  as  If  it  were  a bare  sword.  The  memory  of 
his  eloquence  still  lingers  In  the  hearts  of  some  of  the  aged  people  in 
this  and  the  adjoining  counties,  as  of  something  that  belonged  to  the 
age  of  the  giants  ; for  I myself  never  enjoyed  the  opportunity  of  hear- 
ing him  till  he  was  considerably  passed  the  time  of  his  traditionary 
renown. 

It  was  therefore  eminently  fit  that  if  family  affection  guiding  Chris- 
tian liberality  should  contemplate  such  a gift  to  the  church  as  a sacra- 


8 


iiKMital  allar  for  a nieniorial  of  him,  this  house  should  witness  the  cere- 
mony and  this  congregation — the  successors  of  those  he  preached  to — 
should  enjoy  the  benefit.  Let  it  serve  to  fix  in  our  minds  and  hearts 
the  memory  of  a [)rince  and  a great  man  among  the  preachers  of  the 
gos|)el,  of  one  who  had  a passion  for  preaching — who  had  a burning  en- 
thusiasm for  the  salvation  of  men,  and  whose  labors  “ God  was  pleased 
to  crown  (I  here  quote  the  language  of  another)  with  sixty  revivals  of 
religion.” 

What  Dr.  Lansing  was  to  the  Theological  Seminary,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  originators  and  warmest  friends  and  in  which,  while  pastor 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  he  gave  gratuitous  instruction  in  sa- 
cred rhetoric  for  fivc^  years — what  he  was  to  the  church  at  large,  and  to 
the  nascent  presbyterianism  of  western  New  York,  it  is  not  pertinent 
or  possible  for  me  here  to  mention.  But  as  it  will  help  you  to  under- 
stand and  remember  what  Dr.  Lansing  was  himself — how  tender  and  con- 
scientious as  well  as  strong  and  commanding,  you  will  allow  me  to  men- 
tion a circumstance  recorded  by  Mr.  Finney  as  among  his  experiences 
in  this  place,  and  I will  give  it  in  Mr.  Finney’s  own  words  : “ Soon  after 
my  arrival  at  Auburn,”  he  observes,  “ a circumstance  occurred  of  so 
striking  a character,  that  I must  give  a brief  relation  of  it.  My  wife 
and  myself  were  guests  of  Dr.  Lansing,  the  pastor  of  the  church.  The 
church  were  much  conformed  to  the  world  ; and  were  accused  by  the 
unconverted  of  being  leaders  in  dress  and  fashion  and  worldliness.  As 
usual  I directed  my  preaching  to  secure  the  reformation  of  the  church, 
and  to  get  them  into  a revival  state.  One  Sabbath  I had  preached  as 
searchingly  as  I was  able,  to  the  church  in  regard  to  their  attitude  be- 
fore the  world,  d'he  word  took  deep  hold  of  the  people.  At  the  close  of 


\u\'  .uKlrcss  I ('allcil  upon  the  I’aslor  as  usual  to  pray,  1 lo  was  miicli  im- 
prc;s.siHl  with  thr  sunnon,  and  instead  ol  inunediately  enjra^in^  in  prayer, 
he  nuule  a sliort  I)ut  eery  earnest  address  to  the  churcli,  confirminj^ 
what  1 liail  said.  At  this  moment,  a man  arose  in  tlie  j^.allery,  and  said 
in  a vei')'  dcdiheraU' and  distinct  manner,  “ Mr.  Lansing,  I do  not  Ixdieve 
tliat  such  ri'inarks  from  you  can  do  any  good  while  you  W(;ar  a ruffled 
shirt  aiul  a gold  ring,  and  while  your  wife;  and  the  ladies  of  your  family 
sit  as  they  do,  before  the  cotigregation,  dressed  as  leaders  in  the  fashions 
of  the  day.” 

It  seemed  as  if  this  would  kill  Dr.  Lansing  outright.  lie  made  no 
reply  ; but  cast  himself  across  the  side  of  the  pul[)it  and  wept  like  a 
child.  I'he  congregation  was  almost  as  much  shocked  and  affected  as 
himself.  They  almost  universally  dropped  their  heads  upon  the  seat  in 
front  of  them,  and  many  were  weeping  on  every  side.  With  the  excej)- 
tion  of  the  sobs  and  sighs,  the  house  was  profoundly  silent.  I waited 
a few  moments  ; and  as  Dr.  Lansing  did  not  move,  I rose  and  offered 
a short  prayer  and  dismissed  the  congregation. 

I went  home  with  the  dear  wounded  Pastor,  and  when  all  the  family 
were  returned  from  church,  he  took  off  the  ring — it  was  a slender  gold 
ring  that  could  hardly  attract  notice,  and  said  his  first  wife  when  upon 
her  dying  bed,  took  it  from  her  finger  and  placed  it  upon  his,  with  the 
request  that  he  should  wear  it  for  her  sake,  fie  had  done  so  without 
a thought  of  its  being  a stumbling  block  to  any  soul.  Of  his  ruffies,  he 
had  worn  them  from  his  childhood,  and  did  not  think  of  them  as  any- 
thing improper.  But,  he  added,  “ if  these  things  are  an  occasion  of  of- 
fense to  any,  I will  not  wear  them.”  “ He  was  a precious  Christian  man 
(adds  IMr.  Finney  ) and  an  excellent  Pastor.” 


lO 


I do  not  ([note  this  story  as  l)y  any  means  sympathizing  with  that 
narrow  and  illiberal  judging  of  others,  which  on  this  occasion  caused 
such  pain  to  Dr.  Lansing,  and  yet  not  without  a feeling  that  it  may  sug- 
gest some  reflections  [jrofitable  to  all  of  us.  A gold  ring  and  a ruffle 
may  be  among  the  most  innocent  and  suitable  ornanients  of  the  person 
(d  a minister,  or  any  one  else,  and  yet  it  may  also  be  true  that  excessive 
worldliness  and  devotion  to  fashion  among  Christians,  may  justly  scan- 
dalize unbelievers,  and  have  something  to  do  towards  neutralizing  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel.  We  all,  of  course,  feel  that  in  this  matter  Dr. 
Lansing  was  most  innocent  of  any  wrong  doing  ; and  that  the  interrup- 
tion was  probably  nothing  more  than  the  coarse  insult  of  a fanatical  or 
a Pharisaical  zealot. 

It  will  add  to  the  sympathy  and  kindness  with  which  you  will  receive 
this  gift  from  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Lansing,  to  reflect  that  these  walls 
witnessed  that  pathetic  scene  ; that  these  timbers  heard,  so  to  say,  the 
sobs  of  that  tender-hearted  conscientious  Pastor,  and  his  grieved  con- 
gregation : and  that  they  resounded  afterwards  with  the  thanksgivings 
and  praises  of  the  multitudes  who,  in  the  revival  that  followed,  had  a 
“new  song  put  into  their  mouths,  even  praise  to  our  God.” 

At  the  conclusion  of  Prof.  Hopkins’s  address,  the  pastor  proceeded 
to  consecrate  the  table  to  its  holy  use  His  words  were  substantially  as 
follows : 

I'here  are  two  inscriptions  carved  on  this  beautiful  table.  On  the 
upper  part,  just  under  the  top  moulding,  are  the  words,  “This  do  in  re- 
membrance of  me,”  and  on  the  lower  cross-bar,  “ In  memoriam.”  Pheir 
meaning  is  the  same,  but  their  reference  is  different.  The  first  indi- 
cates the  use  to  which  the  table  is  to  be  put,  the  latter  denotes  the 


inoti\  (‘  ()l  tlu‘  ( )lir  Messed  Loi  il  (lesleiied  lo  |)er|)el  iiale  his  lUem- 

ory,  .iiul  SC)  on  the  ni^hl  in  which  he  siillei'ed  he  insliliiled  with  bread 
and  wine,  the  sacranuMit  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  As  he  l)lessed  the-  sim- 
ple' ('h'nu'iits  and  ea\('  them  to  Ids  disciples,  he  said,  “ d'his  do  in  rc- 
nu'inhrancc'  of  me.  lor  as  oftc'ii  as  yc'  eat  this  bread  and  drink  this  enp  yc; 
do  show  llu'  Lord's  death  till  he;  come.”  1 I is  enemies,  who  a little  after 
pic'rced  those;  hands  ;ind  she'd  that  blood,  little;  thought  that  that  death 
1))'  which  the)’  hoped  to  de.stroy  him  and  his  memory  was  to  be  the  very 
means  b)-  which  his  memory  was  to  be  [)cr|)etnated.  In  the  future  as 
we  sit  around  this  table  and  [)artake  of  the  emblems  of  Christ’s  love,  we 
will  be  showing  his  death  and  keeping  fresh  the  memory  of  his  atone- 
ment. 

It  is  fitting  that  this  table  as  it  stands  before  us  from  week  to  week 
should  keej)  in  memor)’  the  life  and  work  of  one  of  Christ’s  faithful  dis- 
ciple.s.  He  wrought  well  and  lived  nobly  in  this  community,  and  his 
name  ought  to  be  reverently  cherished.  While  it  must  remain  forever 
and  blessedly  true  that  wdiatever  of  life  the  church  has,  whatever  of 
power,  whatever  of  usefulness,  is  due  to  Jesus,  our  crucified  and  risen 
Lord  ; yet  it  is  also  true  that  the  church  of  Christ  in  Auburn  owes 
much  to  the  faithful,  and  successful  labors  of  Dr.  Lansinsf.  OurTheo- 
logical  Seminary  with  whose  early  history  he  was  so  closely  identified, 
which  was  known  at  one  time  as  ‘ Lansing’s  folly,’  now  stands  as  a 
worthy  and  perpetual  monument  to  his  wisdom.  The  First  church, 
the  mother  of  all  the  churches  of  the  place,  whose  first  pastor  he  was 
in  her  first  home,  still  gives  in  her  vigorous  strength  and  abounding 
good  works  testimony  to  the  strong  and  substantial  foundations  which 
he  laid  here  for  the  church  of  Christ.  Under  this  dove,  which  spread 


--  12  — 

its  winj^s  al)()vc  him  during  the  twelve  years  of  his  ministry  in  this 
house,  this  table  will  stand  to  tell  us  and  our  successors  of  his  devotion 
to  his  Master  and  his  zeal  in  his  service. 

In  the  name  of  this  church  I acce|)t  with  expressions  of  thankfulness 
this  beautiful  gift  from  the  daughter  of  the  departed  saint,  and  in  the 
name  of  the  Idessed  d'rinity,  the  h'ather  and  the  Son,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost,  the  one  God,  I do  now  set  ajjart  and  consecrate  it  to  be  used 
in  his  holy  service.  May  God  grant  the  memory  of  the  just  to  continue 
until  that  Just  One  come,  who  has  j:)romised  his  waiting  church,  to  come 
(]uickly. 

The  services  were  concluded  with  the  following  hymn  ; 

Rise,  O my  soul  ! pursue  the  path, 

By  ancient  worthies  trod  ; 

A.sptring,  view  those  holy  men. 

Who  lived  and  walked  with  God. 

Though  dead,  they  speak  in  reason’s  ear, 

■Vnd  in  example  live  ; 

Their  faith,  and  hope,  and  mighty  deeds, 

Still  fresh  instruction  give. 

’T  was  through  the  Lamb’s  most  precious  blood. 

They  conquered  every  foe  ; 

And,  to  his  power  and  matchless  grace. 

Their  crowns  and  honors  owe. 

Lord  ! may  I ever  keep  in  view 
The  patterns  thou  hast  given 

And  ne’er  forsake  the  blessed  path 
Which  led  them  safe  to  heaven. 


MMMiNDIX. 


Jix tracts  from  Obituary  Notices  at  the  time  of  Pr.  Lansiiifs 

death. 

The  venerable  Dr.  Lansing  was  called  to  his  rest  on  Saturday  last,  the 
19th,  after  a protracted  and  painful  illness.  He  died  at  Walnut  Hills, 
Cincinnati,  where  he  had  lately  taken  up  his  residence,  and  where,  with 
his  wonted  fervor  and  activity,  he  was  engaged  in  preaching  the  Gospel, 
and  in  abundant  labors  for  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  His  funeral  was 
attended  yesterday,  at  Troy,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  city  he  spent  his 
youth  upon  his  father’s  manor.  Lansingburgh  derived  its  name  from  his 
paternal  grandfather,  who  was  Patroon  over  a large  tract  of  land  in  that 
neighborhood.  In  that  village  Dr.  Lansing  was  born,  in  1785.  He 
entered  Yale  College  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  graduated  in  1804,  and 
pursued  his  theological  studies  under  Rev.  Dr.  Blachford,  of  his  native 
town,  using  as  text-books  the  then  recent  works  of  Hopkins,  Bellamy 
and  Edwards.  It  was  this  early  and  studious  contact  with  the  great 
thinkers  of  New  England,  that  gave  to  him  such  clear  and  consistent 
views  in  theology  ; while  the  fervor  of  their  spirit,  so  congenial  to  his 
own,  animated  that  rare  gift  of  popular  eloquence  with  which  he  was 
endowed. 


'4  — 


1 Ic  cntei'cxl  upon  his  ministry  in  Onondaga,  which  was  then  a settle- 
ment of  log-cal>ins  in  tlie  wilderness.  After  eight  years  of  successful 
labor,  he  removed  to  .Stillwater,  Saratoga  County.  In  1817,  he  was 
settled  in  Auburn,  and  for  twenty  years  was  a leading  mind  in  the  re- 
ligious and  (nlucational  movements  of  western  New  York.  He  was 
prominent  as  a preacher  in  the  great  revival  period  from  1825  to  1835, 
and  was  a chief  agent  in  founding  Auburn  Seminary. 

In  this  city,  (N.  Y.,)  Dr.  Lansing  preached  with  great  power  and  suc- 
cess in  Masonic  1 fall,  in  Broadway,  (lately  demolished)  where  he  gathered 
the  church  which  worshiped,  till  recently,  in  Houston-st.,  and  which  gave 
birth  to  the  Thirteenth-st.  Presbyterian  Church.  He  had  also  a brief  but 
memorable  ministry  in  Utica.  Ill  health  drove  him  to  Illinois;  but  he 
resumed  his  labors  in  this  city,  some  ten  years  ago,  in  a small  church  in 
Chrystie  street,  and  presently  removed  to  Clinton  avenue,  in  Brooklyn, 
where,  with  a father’s  care,  he  nursed  an  infant  church  to  maturity  and 
strength,  d'he  project  of  building  the  elegant  and  spacious  edifice  now 
occupied  by  that  church  originated  with  him  ; and  it  was  urged  on  by 
him  with  a zeal  and  an  enthusiasm  worthy  of  his  best  days.  The  suc- 
cess of  this  undertaking  he  regarded  as  the  crowning  act  and  glory  of 
his  life.  He  left  his  sick  chamber  to  lay  its  corner-stone,  and  on  De- 
cember 1 6th,  1855,  he  ja'eached  the  sermon  at  the  dedication  of  the 
house.  He  called  this  his  “Coronation  Day.” 

It  is  impossible,  in  these  narrow  limits,  to  do  justice  to  his  pure  and 
noble  character.  His  mental  constitution  exhibited  a rare  combination 
of  the  logical  faculty,  capable  of  severe  analysis,  and  the  imaginative, 
capable  of  lofty  and  even  sublime  reaches  of  spiritual  vision.  Hence 
he  was  at  once  clear  and  discriminating  in  his  treatment  of  doctrine,  and 


L^lowiiio  in  his  appeals  lo  tlie  heail  and  ('oiiseience,  A child  like  swet-t- 
n(‘ss  ol  laith,  and  a most  heavenly  ( hai  il )•  inai'ked  his  life  as  a ( hristian. 
1 I is  heart  ne\  (M‘  <dd  ; noi'  did  he  ever  lose  the  freshness  and  fervor  of 
his  early  consecration  to  C hrist.  Sometimes,  indeed,  he  seemed  to  liv(; 
in  an  ecstasy  ol  spiritual  contemplation,  and  in  prayer  to  enjoy  the  visi- 
hU'  elory  ol  th('  l\,(‘d('(Mncr.  No  oiu^  conid  associate  with  him  and  not 
fe(d  that  with  him  faith  in  Christ  was  a realitv'  of  the  dail)-  life,  and  that 
he  was  devoted  with  singleness  of  mind  to  the  service  of  the  Master, 
llis  tall,  \ ie-oron.s,  muscular  frame,  fitted  for  endurance,  l)ecame  lithe 
under  the  power  of  his  spiritual  emotions  or  ap^ile  with  the  ardor 
of  his  labors  for  Christ.  Our  eye  still  c^reets  that  manly  form,  un- 
broken by  the  weieht  of  years,  as  when  last  we  saw  him  in  the  pul- 
pit, and  ivill  not  see  him  dead.  And  even  when  we  assure  ourselves 
that  we  shall  no  more  see  that  countenance  glowing  with  love  and 
joy,  we  cannot  mourn  for  him  as  dead.  Rather  do  we  take  up  in  his 
name  the  psalm  of  Simeon,  “ Lord,  now  lettest  Thou  Thy  servant  depart 
in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  Thy  salvation.”  A life  all  spent  in  ac- 
tive and  useful  service  for  Christ,  a mind  often  illumined  upon  earth  with 
the  beatific  vision  of  Christ,  these  were  the  prophecy  and  pledge  of  a life 
unfailing,  and  a vision  undimmed,  with  Christ  in  His  glory  forever.  As 
one  hath  said  of  Simeon  : “ Nothinof  else  remained  for  him,  but  that  he 
should  be  let  to  depaj't  in  peace,  and  should  lay  him  dowm  in  peace  and 
take  his  rest  ; that  is,  that  they  should  bear  him  into  the  Jerusalem  of 
eternal  peace,  and  set  him  where  he  might  contemplate  that  peace  ivliich 
passeth  all  -understanding.  Blessed  old  man  ! thy  youth  is  renewed  like 
the  eagles’  ; and  thy  desire  is  filled  with  good  things.” 


■5 


